Xbox One vs. Playstation 4

Which one will you choose?

The new wave of next generation consoles is here and getting one is not as easy as it may seem. The Playstation 4 and Xbox One have both been out for about a month now but unless you pre ordered or won one you probably do not have one yet.

The decision to buy a new console can be a hard one. Buyers must consider multiple factors when buying a new console like price, games, hardware, and other factors like which console you had before. The Xbox One is $500 and the PS4 is $400, which is also something to take into consideration. Senior Will B. said, “I am not getting Xbox One, the PS4 offers so much more for the money”.

The Xbox One comes with a controller, a headset, and the Kinect sensor. On the other hand the PS4 comes with the dual shock 4 controller, a headset, and a USB charger. Both consoles come with HDMI cables, which were not included with the last generation consoles. The PS4 has better specs than the Xbox one, including a stronger graphics card and a faster CPU.

To compensate for this loss the Xbox one has the Cloud. The Cloud gives developers the ability to add things into their games after they have been released whenever they want. The updates are automatic and you never have to wait for an update to download again. So, while the Xbox is off the games are updating on their own. It is yet to be seen how much potential the cloud servers have, but the price tag and less powerful specs of the Xbox one could be a deal breaker for many.

Senior Henry B. said, “Many aspects of the interface are poorly engineered. The design team for the Xbox one was far too diluted, given the general “all-in-one entertainment” design concept, resulting in a product that is outdone in almost every way by other, more specific products. The Xbox One excels at nothing and is mediocre at everything, in a way. Given the absurd price tag of the console, I can’t pinpoint any particular reason to invest in such an unimpressive piece of hardware”.

Also important for potential next generation console buyers are the games. During the first year the PS4 will release exclusive titles like Drive Club, Killzone Shadowfall, and Infamous Second Son. Xbox, on the other hand, will release exclusives like Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, and Titanfall. Senior Grant K. said, “I have always liked the Xbox exclusive games. I really liked the Gears franchise”.

Henry B. said, “It’s too early to decide. Titanfall is a big plus for the Xbox, but that’s about it so far. Assuming the Halo series continues to be an Xbox-exclusive franchise, that may persuade some gamers. Personally, I believe the Halo franchise has run it’s course, and should not be enough to compel any serious gamer to chose the Xbox One over the PS4”. Will B. said, “I’d say Xbox One has better exclusive titles like Halo 5, Fable, and Sunset Overdrive”.

Sometimes buying a new console can just come down to what console the person had last. Junior Rob M. said, “I wanna get the PS4 because I’ve never had an Xbox before”.

Duxbury Students had some very meaningful things to say about the next generation consoles. When asked about which console he preferred, Sophomore Brendan M. said, “PS4 for its better hardware (GDDR5), lower price, and it seems like the console of choice of most people including my friends. On the PS4 I will be able to play with more of my friends. I love the look of the PS4’s Infamous Second Son and Killzone: Shadowfall. Though, I will admit that the Xbox One’s Ryse: Son of Rome and Titanfall do look better. The Xbox One does edge in front of the PS4 for me when it comes to exclusives. Though I must say nearly all of the cross-platform games look better on the PS4”.

Duxbury students are leaning towards not buying next generation consoles. Henry B. said, “It provides nothing that current Xbox 360 owners don’t already have, and adds too much unnecessary complication to the modern system of entertainment. All in all, I see no reason to ever justify an upgrade from my Xbox 360 to an Xbox One, given the circumstances”.

Only about 40% of students that play video games are planning on getting a next gen console within the next year. Darnell R. says he is getting an Xbox one at some point. He said, “There are a lot more options and things that you can do with the Xbox One compared to the Xbox 360”.